Automatic flow controller



Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,784

. D. A. FLEMING AUTOMATIC FLow CONTROLLER Filed August 20, 1924 I INVENTOR .D. 1 Z 6min A TTORNE YS Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID ALBERT FLEMING, OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT G. FLEMING, OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC FLOW CONTROLLER.

Application filed. August 20, 1924. Serial No. 733,245.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indiana, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Flow Controller, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic flow controllers and I use this title broadly to include any tank or receptacle which by its own movement causes the contents or a porti-on thereof to escape.

An object of the invention is to provide a device or mechanism of this character which may function a trap to detach and discharge condensation from steam boilers and the like, or which may be used as an overflow device or controlling device for various purposes, and which will be entirely automatic in its action.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which will be ex tremely simple in construction, and which will most efliciently perform the functions for which it is intended.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangments of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section and more or less diagrammatic, illustrating my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the valve in open position.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown my invention as a trap for coudensation from steam and hence I show the same in connection with a boiler 1 having a steam pipe 2 connecting the same with my improved tank 3. lhe discharge end of pipe 2 communicates with an inlet ain tank 8 at a point sui'iiciently above the bottom of the tank, and an outlet pipe 5 for condensation communicates with the lower end of tank 3. In this pipe 5 I provide valve casing (S in which a valve 7 is located, the

stem 8 of the valve 7 being connected to or supported at one end from the floor or other support 9 so that it is stationary. I also illustrate the tank 3 as having a lever 10 connected at one end thereto and fulorumed between its ends upon a suitable support 11 and also provided with an adjustable weight 12.

It is to be understood that the tank 3 has a vertical movement, that the pipe 2 is sufficiently long, sufficiently flexible, or other wise constructed and arranged to permit the tank the necessary vertical movement.

The downward movement of the tank is due to the accumulation of water or other material therein and when the weight of water is sufiicient the tank will move down wardly causing the valve casing 6 to move dowinvardly and hence causing the seat 13 of the casing to move away from valve 7 and allow the tank to drain until the weight is reduced so that the tank will automatically rise and cause the valve to close.

It is this broad idea of a movable tank which when moved in one dir ction by the accumulation therein to open the valve, constitutes the broad idea of my invention and I do not wish to be limited to any particular use, to the details of construction set forth nor to the arrangement shown and described but desire to cover broadly the idea as expressed.

Various slight changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An automatic flow controller, comprising a tank, an inlet metal pipe constituting a support of the tank and rigidly secured at its free end to the tank and at its opposite end to a fixed support, a fixed outlet valve and a valve casing connect-ed to the tank and movable with the tank by reason of the weight of water in the tank to control the opening and closing of the valve.

DAVID ALBERT FLEMING. 

